The Marble
Mountains in central
Vietnam, consist of a cluster of
five marble and limestone hills, named Ngu Hanh Son, i.e. the
‘Five
Elements Mountains’,
by the Nguyen Emperor Minh Mang. Each is said to
represent one of the Five Elements, i.e. metal, water,
wood, fire, and earth.

They comprise
numerous tunnels and caves, some of which now
accommodate Buddhist shrines (fig.).
Yet, during the
Vietnam War, they were a
stronghold for the Vietcong and contained a makeshift
hospital.